About the job

Job summary

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is the UK government department responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Our broad remit means we play a major role in people's day-to-day life, from the food we eat, and the air we breathe, to the water we drink.

Defra is transforming the way it manages and exploits information and data. As part of this transformation, a new Chief Data Officer’s team is being established within the Science and Analysis Group, working in close collaboration with Digital and Data colleagues. The Senior Librarian role sits within the Chief Data Officer’s team and reports to the Head Librarian.

Encouraging diverse applicants

We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups.

Job description

The Information Management Team within the Science and Analys group offers an exciting opportunity for a Senior Librarian. The Defra Library team provides a variety of customer groups with access to a wide range of information resources. Defra library is part of the Government KIM (GKIM) professional community that works across departments, agencies, and arms’ length bodies (ALBs) to support and champion the creation, organisation and exploitation of information and knowledge.

Our customers are committed to basing policy processes, research and decision making on the best possible evidence and Defra Library plays a vital role in enabling this by providing a gateway to a wide range of high-quality information resources. We strive to provide an outstanding, sustainable service that adds real value by empowering colleagues to make the best possible use of the library resources and services.

This senior librarian role will support the Head Librarian in the leadership and management of the library services and Defra library team.

Person specification

Key Responsibilities: 

• Assume overall responsibility for the leadership and management of the Defra library. Provide oversight to ensure that high-quality services and resources are deployed efficiently and effectively and that performance standards are met across the customer organisations.
• Identify and develop opportunities to strengthen customer engagement.
• Build relationships and work effectively with a range of stakeholders in arm length bodies and across government.
• Manage the promotion and marketing activities of the library team with an emphasis on accessibility and inclusivity.
• Develop service, content and collection management strategies based on understanding and analysing user needs.
• Lead on contract and licencing management with library suppliers and other delivery partners.
• Financial monitoring of the library resources budget and contribute to forecasting and budget decisions.
• Develop peer-reviewed staff publication collections and bibliometrics delivery to the customers.
• Offer advice on (Crown) copyright and the Open Government Licence.
• Provide professional leadership, advice, support and guidance to a high performing, geographically dispersed library team ensuring wellbeing and delivery of outcomes.

Essential

• Experience in identifying, influencing, and building relationships with important stakeholders, tailoring communication to their needs, and work with teams to build relationships while also meeting user needs.
• Experience of managing a complex suite of information resources, provided by multiple suppliers.
• Comfortable with working in a geographically dispersed team and can use your own initiative to drive progress.
• Ability to communicate effectively with scientists, vets and policy makers and other specialist stakeholders.
• Experience of staff and resource management and planning, prioritising and managing the delivery of user focused activities.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,439, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £10,649 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Application Process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, Personal Statement and Behaviour Statement.

Your personal statement should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, against the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section). Your personal statement must not exceed 750 words.

Please complete a statement on the specified Behaviour (250 word max).

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Sift

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour – Delivering at Pace. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Sifting is likely to be occur w/c 6th Feb , with interviews likely to take place w/c 26th Feb. These dates are indicative only.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Behaviours, Strengths and a Technical Question.

Interviews are expected to last no longer than 50 minutes.

Interview location to be confirmed.

Location

Please be aware that this role(s) will be contractually based in a Defra group workplace/office. The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.

Candidates applying for these roles will be based at one of the Defra hubs as advertised.  

For information, our core Defra hub locations are:

• York – the Kings Pool
• Newcastle – Lancaster House
• Bristol – Horizon House (Please note that space at this office is limited and it may not be possible for all Policy roles to be recruited to this location)
• London – 2 Marsham Street
• Weybridge

Internal (core Defra) employees can apply for this role and choose to remain in their current location or to be based in one of the advertised locations.

All other applicants will be based in one of the advertised locations.Our current office attendance approach requires 60% attendance in Defra group workplaces or off site meetings with partners and customers. This balance provides thriving workplaces to connect with colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs balanced with personal flexibility and choice. 

Travel and subsistence will not be paid for travel to a base office location.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Merit Lists

Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.

Job offers are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.

Salary

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

Visa Sponsorship Statement

Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
• Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Criminal Record Check

If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check maybe carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognize in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Internal Fraud Database Check

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Higher Security Clearance:

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter.

If you are successful at interview, we will ask you to undertake basic security clearance before the role is confirmed. If you are based in London or Weybridge, we will need you to pass a higher level of clearance (CTC) because of the security requirements for the Marsham Street office.

This is a permanent role as an SEO in the Knowledge and information management team.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.